The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-01-08


went over one morning and built
platform for one of us to stand on in
the branches Of convenient tree, and
then hunted about until we found
places for my two companions on paths
which were beaten hard under the feet
of thousands of animals. 1t was in the
dry season, and the pond was low.
Therefore it might be expected that the
pool would be sought out by animals
from a great distance. Nothing of ac-
count came to it in the daytime, as ex-
perience had taught us. 1t is only after
shutdown that elephants, the rhinoceros,
lions, tigers, panthers and such beasts
approach pool to drink, especially if it
is in a hidden place. No doubt some of
them may go two or three days without
water, but the hunter who takes his
stand at a pool is always certain Of big
game Of some sort
We set out for our stations about an
hour before shutdown, each Of us hay
inc a native attendant to remain
through the night. just before we
reached the pool, and while my man
was trotting along Il few feet ahead Of
me, a iaguar leaped down upon him
from a limb with loud scream. The
beast rather overshot his mark, but
clawed the mans shoulder severely.
The native uttered shouts of terror,
and | fired a shot which missed the
beast, and he licked his chops at me in
a savage manner and bounded away.
The man could not 90 on with me. He
was severely hurt and in great pain,
and l told him to run back to the viii
LACE for treatment and send out
another man. He was off at once, and
l kept the path until reaching the pool,
and then lost no time in ascending to
the, scafold. l had heavy rifle and
plenty of cartridges, and in my belt
the hunting knife usually carried. 1t
was only when ready to ascend the
platform that discovered the absence
of my pair of Colts with their powder
and bullets Those things had been
intrusted to my servant, and he had
been in such a hurry to return to the
village that he had carried them of
with him. Just then, however, the
loss of the pistols did not seem Of much
account to me. l climbed the platform,
pulled my gun up after me, and pretty
soon began to listen for the halloo of
the man who would be sent out to stay
with me. l had reason to expect him
before shutdown, for the distance was
not great, and the natives move rap
idly on an errand, but the red orb dis
appeared, the shadows of evening fell,
and heard nothing of him. | knew
they that he would not come at all, as
it would be rislling his life 70 enter the
jungle after shutdown.
The pool was in the center of clear
ed space about half an acre in extent
and the ground was uneven. As thcr.
was no such thing as a creek or riyule
in the neighborhood, the pool mus
have been formed by a spring which
dubbed up among the rocks. Darkness
had scarcely come when the moor
came up to make the cleared space al
most as light as day, and about tn
same time the wild beasts began e
move about. l could hear them snarI
ing and growing on all sides, and lc
Gated a jaguar in tree not far remove
from mine by his continual snarling a
something in the jungle. | move
about to get better look, and suddenl
lost my grasp on the gun, and had tn
modification of hearing it strike tn
ground below with heavy crash. NJ
idea was to get possession Of it again d
soon as possible, and l had descended ;
least half way when there was asna
from the roots of the tree which brougf
my hair on end. recognized the pre-
ence of a tiger, who might have bee
waiting there for five minutes for all
knew. As | hurried back to my perc
l heard his sharp claws tearing at I'll
bark, and was truly thankful for ii
knowledge that he could not climb. 4
reached my perch l drew my knife {
the only weapon left me, and the tige
feeling that | had escaped him for ii
moment, walked out into the brigl
moonlight with deliberate step, locke
up at me with a low growl, and the
stood at the edge Of the pool and lal
ped the water He was engaged ;
this when heard loud ''woofw frol
the jungle, and the next instant rh
noceros broke cover and came chars
ing at the tiger with rush that woul
have Knocked down stone wall. H
movement proved that he was a ba
rhinocoros, and it was probably tn
fellow who had annoyed and excite
the jaguar
The tiger had warning enough as Il
big beast came across the open, and
stood in his tracks until l thought
would be run down before he moved